Kenner's Nike controversy prompts $10,000 playground donation: report

Two days after Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn lifted his brief, divisive ban on Nike purchases for youth recreation leagues, a pair of businesses and a church collectively pledged $10,000 to help the playgrounds, WVUE Fox 8 reports. The money comes from Morrow's restaurant, Kaleidoscope and New Home Ministries.

A playground coach, Brian Williams, told WVUE he did not anticipate the support that's poured in for youth teams since the Nike controversy erupted.

"That's another good thing that came from this: Everybody's putting politics to the side and putting the kids to the forefront," he said. "That's awesome. That's a win."

Zahn forbade Nike purchases by the Parks and Recreation Department and playground booster clubs on Sept. 5. Two days earlier, the sports apparel giant had launched an advertising campaign with Colin Kaepernick, the former National Football League quarterback who famously refused to stand for the national anthem.

After a local political and national social media outcry, Zahn pulled down his order Wednesday. He said he had hopes of "bringing this city back together."